| |
Upon another ship stood a pensive man. This journey was to be considerably shorter than that of Jabuti’s, but it still gave time for this solitary figure to reflect on his past; and indeed, his future.
Rodrigo was not of the habit to indulge in doubts and insecurities, but he felt a pang of sadness at having left behind his friends. Leaving Cadiz and the town of his birth brought up many memories for him, but unfortunately, they were not to be happy ones. Having lost his mother at an early age brought devastation in his life, and therefore he directed his love and attention towards his father, but this was only met with hostility and criticism. Sadly, Rodrigo’s love went unnoticed by a man so consumed by his own grief and selfishness. Such was his father’s ignorance that he didn’t even notice the day Rodrigo walked out of their family home. On a wet and windy afternoon, Rodrigo wandered the streets of Cadiz; bereft and all alone.
And that was where the church came to his salvation. Within the brotherhood, he found a warm and welcoming family who had an overwhelming love of God and his teachings. Finally, there was a place that Rodrigo had been yearning for his whole life. That was why Rodrigo had a deep attachment and fondness for Jabuti and his plight. Into his life had walked a man of extraordinary courage and conviction, despite the hardships that he had been forced to endure. And here Rodrigo stood, his mission complete and with Jabuti finally making his way homewards.
My, what an incredible adventure! How will you fare, my dear friend? I hope that you will finally be able to settle. How I wish my father and I had been reunited, but it was not to be, he sighed. Believe me, father, I tried, but you turned your back on me many times. You lost a wife, and I lost a mother. We could have shared the grief together and been a little family; just you and I. I bear you no ill, you were just a man, with all the faults that being so entailed...
‘Priest!’ came a shout. ‘You are not in the land of the infidels any more. Lend a hand and stop daydreaming.’
With good grace, Rodrigo turned around and helped the sailors as best he could. He was not an experienced sailor, but he could fetch water and food as needed. Even though Rodrigo represented everything that the Moors hated about the unbelievers they held a begrudging respect for this humble man.
‘And see to these horses will you,’ came another shout. ‘The sultan will not be happy if they arrive in ill health.’
The two horses had been placed into crates that had been lashed onto the open deck, but luckily for them, the seas remained calm on their journey southwards. Rodrigo pulled handfuls of hay from a now rotting bale and fed them to the horses.
‘Not much longer now,’ he whispered, rubbing their soft noses through the wooden slats.
‘See to their stench, priest.’
Rodrigo could almost see the look of indignation upon these proud horses’ features as they were forced to stand and sleep among their own waste. So, he filled a pail with sea water and threw it along the floor of the crates, whereupon the debris ran into the ocean.
‘A young boy will live a free and happy life because of you,’ he said with a smile.
‘That’s enough of that. They are just dumb animals. Bring us some water,’ came another shout.
The days passed without incident on their journey to Morocco and to the land of the sultan. Rodrigo was resigned to his fate and actually looked forward to seeing Isabella and to tell her of little Jeronimo’s fate.
The final leg of their journey took them to the port town of Salé, home to the infamous Barbary corsairs. But as they slowly glided into the port, a curious mood began to overwhelm Rodrigo. It was if he were in a dream and he went about his tasks mechanically.
‘I must let the horses loose and give them some exercise,’ Rodrigo said as they moored alongside the quay.
‘Do as you wish. I’ll be glad to see the back of those stinking beasts.’
Gingerly, Rodrigo opened one of the crates, whispering soothing words into its ears.
‘Gently now,’ he said as the skittish animal emerged from its crate. With a crude halter around its neck, Rodrigo held onto it as it started to buck.
‘Hey! Watch that animal,’ came a shout.
Rodrigo eventually calmed the frightened animal and led it on its unsteady legs along the wooden quay. Finding a tree that afforded cooling shade, he tied it up and returned for the other animal.
If only I could... Just for a moment, he thought. It would feel like being a boy once more... Put such thoughts out of your mind you foolish old man, he shook his head. But surely it couldn’t do any harm?
Rodrigo returned along the quay with a detached expression, ignoring whatever was being said to him. He walked up to the remaining crate and marvelled at the handsome creature that stood within.
‘My father bought me one just like you when I was a boy,’ he whispered to the animal. ‘I used to love seeing him watch me ride. Those were the only happy times we shared. But, oh so few...’
‘Tie up that other beast and come help us.’
Rodrigo ignored the man and simply walked past him, stroking the animal’s mane. Then in an instant and belying his age, he hopped onto the animal’s back and dug his heels into its hindquarters.
‘What the...?’ came the shocked expression of the sailor who had just addressed him.
‘Come on boy, show me how majestic you can be.’
‘Stop! Stop! What are you doing?’
Look at me, father, see how well I can ride. I told you I’ve been practising, he smiled. Are you proud of me now?
But before he had gone too far, he found himself being thrown violently from the horse and onto the bare earth. As he lay there, he felt a warm sticky sensation envelop his chest.
‘Father, is that you?’ he said holding a hand towards the sky.
With eyelids fluttering weakly and with a look of contentment upon his face he drifted away.